Article: The untold secret to staying engaged at work

Employee Relations

The untold secret to staying engaged at work

All it takes is a little introspection to find out what your motivation triggers are. Read here to learn more.
The untold secret to staying engaged at work

According to studies conducted by independent agencies about the state of employee engagement at work, more than half of the workforce is not tapping its full career growth potential. As many as one-third of them indicated a lack of trust with their employer. And where there’s no trust, there’s no real growth or commitment. Some employers understand this issue and are making efforts to change the situation. Such employers have witnessed the impact of this change in policy, but for the rest of us, we are mostly on our own.

So, if that is true, and since we spend most of our time at work, how do we make the most of it to improve our career and our life in general? Let’s find out.

Invest in learning something new

Studies suggest that we rewire our brain every time we learn something new. It could be anything, learning to play an instrument, learning how to sketch, a new language, or perhaps a using new software that will help you at work. Learning new things, even if the are not related to work helps your brain to relax and sparks creativity which, in turn improves your problem-solving skills.

Remember your strengths

Take a closer look at yourself and remember the reasons why you took the job in the first place. If you’ve accomplished those goals you set for yourself - it could be anything, from making new contacts to learning the tricks of the trade - if those are done, set new goals for yourself to recharge yourself.

Be grateful

People who receive constant appreciation from their bosses are more engaged at work. But if you’re not one of those lucky few whose boss showers them with appreciation every now and then, find your own reasons to be grateful for. Perhaps your team, your family, or even friends - giving compliments can make you feel as good as receiving them.

Change something

If you follow the same routine day-in, day-out, you will find yourself in a place where you begin to hate everything. So, change something about your routine, read a book on your way to work, or park your car a little further from your office and take a walk from there. Sometimes, it’s the simple things that can make a lot of difference in your day.

Give yourself a break

Most people who feel disengaged are actually burned out by their jobs, or are on their way to a burn-out. Our instincts tell us to keep slogging through the tough times, when all we need is a break to regroup our thoughts and regain control of our own productivity.

When we are young, usually all we are interested in is growth and learning. Some people might find their motivation for staying engaged at work in recognition, while others may find it in future growth. But as we grow older and near retirement, these motivations change and often fade away. All it takes is a little introspection to find out what your motivation triggers are. That way, you can start focusing on being yourself at your work and unlocking your own secrets to a highly engaging workplace and a  rewarding career.

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Topics: Employee Relations, Employee Engagement

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